Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PALLET HAVING PANELS AND TUBE SEGMENTS
The invention relates to a pallet, in particular for the transport of goods.
Transport pallets according to EN 13698-1 and UIC 435-2 (Europool pallets) are
known
from the state of the art. These have three bottom boards, each connected by
three blocks
to three transverse boards on which five top boards are arranged. The
corresponding
boards are made of solid wood.
A disadvantage of solid wood pallets is their relatively high weight (20 to 24
kg, depending
on wood moisture content, with dimensions of 1200 x 800 x 144 mm).
This results in the task of providing a pallet which, compared to the state of
the art, has a
reduced weight with sufficient stability.
This task is solved by the pallet of the present invention according to claim
1. Specific
embodiments of the pallet are specified in sub claims 2 to 15. The embodiments
are
described below.
A first aspect of the invention concerns a pallet comprising at least the
following
components:
- a first panel and a second panel parallel to the first panel;
- a layer disposed between the first panel and the second panel from at least
one spacer
extending along a first longitudinal direction, each spacer comprising a first
strip and a
plurality of tube segments;
wherein the tube segments
- each comprise two cut ends delimiting the respective tube segment along a
circumferential direction of the respective tube segment, and
- each comprise two cut surfaces which delimit the respective tube segment
along a
second longitudinal direction of the respective tube segment, wherein
- the tube segments have a segment width running along the connecting line
between the
cut ends, and wherein
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- the tube segments are mechanically connected to the first strip by their cut
ends and
mechanically connected to the first panel and the second panel by their cut
surfaces,
wherein the tube segments of the at least one spacer each have two lateral
elements and
a cover element mechanically connected to the lateral elements, wherein the
lateral
.. elements form first internal angles (a) of 95 to 1200 with the cover
element.
The at least one spacer of the layer extends in the first longitudinal
direction. This first
longitudinal direction refers to the direction along which the first strip
runs. Thus the second
longitudinal direction of the tube segments runs in particular perpendicular
to the first
longitudinal direction.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments are arranged
perpendicular to the
first panel and the second panel in relation to their longitudinal direction.
This results in a
particularly good mechanical stability of the layer.
According to one embodiment, the layer of the pallet comprises a plurality of
spacers,
whereby the spacers in particular are arranged parallel to each other in
relation to the first
longitudinal direction.
The pallet has in particular a pallet width and a pallet depth, the pallet
width extending
along the first longitudinal direction and the pallet depth extending
transversely to the
pallet width in the extension plane of the first and second panels.
In the context of this invention, the term tube segment refers to a part of a
real or imaginary
tube with the first longitudinal direction. The cross-section of the tube
perpendicular to the
first longitudinal direction has a circumference, i.e. an imaginary line,
which delimits the
cross-section on its outside. The cross-section does not have to be circular
or elliptical,
but can also be angular, e.g. trapezoidal segment shaped. The circumferential
direction
of the tube runs (also in the case of a tube with an angular cross-section)
along an
imaginary circle which surrounds the cross-section of the tube perpendicular
to the
longitudinal direction.
The tube segments each comprise a wall which is delimited in the
circumferential direction
by the cut ends, wherein the wall is open in the circumferential direction.
The wall is
continuously open in the longitudinal direction. The circumferential direction
of the tube
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segment refers to the circumferential direction of the associated real or
imaginary tube,
which has a closed wall. The tube segment can be formed in particular by
cutting the tube,
but can also be formed in another way, in particular by mechanically
connecting several
strips.
The cut ends of the tube segment delimit the tube segment in the
circumferential direction.
The wall of the tube segment is thus limited in the circumferential direction
by the cut ends.
The cross-section of the tube segment is thus formed by an open profile.
The tube segments further comprise two cut surfaces, which delimit the tube
segments in
the longitudinal direction. The cut surfaces particularly extend perpendicular
to the
longitudinal direction.
The segment width of the tube segments extends along the connecting line
between the
cut ends. This connecting line between the cut ends particularly extends along
the
common direction of the cut surfaces. In cases where the cut surfaces are not
parallel to
each other in cross-section, the connecting line is defined between the points
of the cut
surfaces with the greatest extent in circumferential direction.
The tube segments each form a cavity within the layer of spacers bounded by
the inner
surface of the wall. Therein, the segment width (i.e. the outer width of the
tube segment)
corresponds to the sum of the maximum extension of the cavity in the direction
of the
connecting line between the cut ends perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction (i.e. in
cross-section) and twice the wall thickness. The segment height corresponds to
the sum
of the maximum extension of the cavity perpendicular to the segment width and
the wall
thickness.
Furthermore, the tube segments have a segment depth extending along the second
longitudinal direction and the tube segments have a segment height extending
perpendicular to the direction of the segment width and the direction of the
segment
height.
According to a further embodiment, all tube segments of the at least one
spacer essentially
have a uniform segment depth. According to another embodiment, all tube
segments of
the at least one spacer essentially have a uniform segment width. According to
another
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embodiment, all tube segments of at least one spacer essentially have a
uniform segment
height.
The tube segments are each connected to the first strip by means of both cut
ends. In the
pallet, in particular, each tube segment is connected with one of its cut
surfaces to the first
panel and with the other cut surface to the second panel.
In accordance with the invention, the tube segments of the at least one spacer
each
comprise two lateral elements and a cover element mechanically connected to
the lateral
elements, wherein the lateral elements form first internal angles (a) of 950
to 1200 with the
cover element.
This means that the longitudinal directions of the lateral elements each run
at an obtuse
angle to the longitudinal direction of the cover element. This can result, for
example, in a
trapezoidal segment shaped profile. If the cover element runs parallel to the
first strip of
the spacer to which the respective tube segment is mechanically connected, a
corresponding third internal angle of y=180 -a, i.e. in the range from 60 to
85 , results
between the respective lateral element and the first strip.
Such tube segments consisting of only three components are easy to construct,
but
nevertheless allow a high mechanical stability of the pallet with low weight.
The special profile shape of the tube segments according to the invention with
first internal
angles in the range of 95 to 120 results in a particularly good mechanical
load capacity
of the tube segments in the direction of the segment height (i.e.
perpendicular to the
second longitudinal direction of the tube segments and perpendicular to a
connecting line
between the cut ends, also termed segment width), in particular perpendicular
to the
longitudinal direction of the cover element.
For example, such tube segments can withstand a force acting on the tube
segments
along the segment height better than flatter profiles (i.e. those with larger
first internal
angles). Such forces occur in particular when pressing the tube segments with
strips
during the production of the spacers or when pressing longer tube segments
with cover
layers during the production of intermediate products for the production of
spacers and
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can lead to deformation or breaking of the tube segments. Thus the profile
shape
according to this invention results in a cost-relevant reduction of scrap
during production.
Compared to rectangular-segment-shaped profiles (first internal angle = 900),
tube
segments in the sense of the present invention have the advantage that the
tube segments
5 cover a larger area of the respective spacer along the first longitudinal
direction of the
spacers, so that fewer tube segments per spacer are required to stiffen the
pallet. This
advantageously reduces the weight of the pallet and saves material costs.
According to another embodiment, the tube segments are each formed from two
lateral
elements and a cover element.
According to another embodiment, the cover elements of the at least one spacer
run
parallel to the respective first strip of the at least one spacer to which the
tube segments
are mechanically connected.
According to another embodiment, the lateral elements of the tube segments of
the at
least one spacer form third internal angles of 60 to 85 with the first strip
of the at least
one spacer to which the tube segments are mechanically connected.
According to another embodiment, both lateral elements form the same first
internal angle
with the cover element.
According to another embodiment, the first internal angles (a) are 100 to 110
.
This area is particularly advantageous in terms of good mechanical load-
bearing capacity
in the direction of the segment height in combination with good covering of
the spacer in
the direction of the segment width.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments comprise first mitres on
which the
lateral elements are mechanically connected to the cover element.
The lateral elements and the cover element can be easily produced from a panel
or board
by introducing mitres, folding on the mitres and mechanical joining (e.g.
gluing). The first
internal angles between the lateral elements and the cover element, in
particular, can be
set at any angle between 95 and 120 by means of an appropriate mitre design.
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According to a further embodiment, the lateral elements and the cover element
are each
made of a strip, in particular of a wood-based material.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments have a trapezoidal
segment
shaped cross-section in relation to the second longitudinal direction of the
tube segments
(in particular transverse to the plane of the first and second panels). This
is the case with
the specified first internal angles if the cover element runs parallel to the
first strip of the
respective spacer and has the advantage, in addition to the mechanical load-
bearing
capacity and covering of the spacers, that the spacers can be arranged
parallel within the
layer without gaps.
According to another embodiment, the tube segments of at least one spacer are
mechanically connected to a first strip side of the first strip. This means
that all tube
segments are arranged next to each other on one side of the strip.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one spacer comprises a second
strip,
which is mechanically connected to the walls of the tube segments of the
respective
spacer. In particular, the second strip runs parallel to the first strip. The
second strip
particularly increases the mechanical stability of the spacers. In addition,
in the case of an
embodiment of the layer in which adjacent spacers are close together, the
second strip
may be in contact with the first strip of an adjacent spacer to form a
continuous structure,
which further increases the stability of the pallet.
According to an embodiment, the pallet comprises a wood-based material,
wherein
particularly the pallet is made of a wood-based material.
According to another embodiment, the first panel and/or the second panel
comprises a
wood-based material, wherein particularly the first panel and/or the second
panel is made
of a wood-based material.
According to an embodiment, the at least one spacer comprises a wood-based
material,
wherein particularly the at least one spacer is formed from a wood-based
material.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments comprise a wood-based
material,
wherein particularly the tube segments are formed from a wood-based material.
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According to a further embodiment, the first strip and/or the second strip
comprises a
wood-based material, wherein particularly the first strip and/or the second
strip is formed
from a wood-based material.
In the context of the present invention, the term wood-based material refers
to a material
which comprises comminuted wood, in particular wood chips, wood chips, wood
veneers,
wood veneer strips, wood wool, wood fibres or wood dusts, or other
lignocellulose
materials. Furthermore, the wood-based material may in particular contain
binders,
adhesives and/or additives. Additives can in particular be hydrophobizing
agents, wood
preservatives, flame retardants, hardeners or paint particles. Binders include
in particular
urea glue, synthetic resins, e.g. phenolic resins, isocyanates, plastics
and/or bioplastics.
Wood veneers and/or wood veneer strips are used in particular for the
production of
plywood and/or coarse particle boards (OSB boards).
Wood-based materials include in particular solid wood-based materials, e.g.
solid wood
panels (in accordance with DIN EN 12775) or laminated wood panels, cross
laminated
timber, glued laminated timber, plywood and/or laminated timber, veneer wood-
based
materials, e.g. veneer plywood (FU), veneer laminated wood, veneer strip wood,
bending
plywood, wood-chip materials, e.g. flat pressed boards (P2), extruded boards,
chipboard
shaped parts, coarse chipboard (OSB boards, according to DIN EN 300) and/or
chipboard
strip wood (LSL), wood fibre materials, e.g. wood fibre insulating boards
(HFD), porous
fibre boards, soft boards (SB), medium hard fibre boards (MB), hard fibre
boards (HB or
HFH), hard fibre boards, extra hard fibre boards (HFE), medium density fibre
boards
(MDF), high density fibre boards (HDF) and/or ultra light fibre boards (ULDF),
Arboform or
liquid wood.
The term fibreboard refers to the wood-based materials specified in DIN EN
622. The term
chipboard refers to the wood-based materials specified in the standards DIN EN
309 and
DIN EN 312. The term plywood refers to the wood-based materials specified in
the
standards DIN 68708 and DIN EN 313.
As a basic material for carcass and interior construction, wood-based
materials have the
advantage of high material strength and mechanical load-bearing capacity while
being
lightweight at the same time.
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According to one embodiment, the wood-based material has a lignin content of
>5%, in
particular >10% by weight. This means that in particular paper and cardboard
do not
represent wood-based materials in the sense of the present invention, since
the lignin of
the wood raw materials used is largely removed during paper production, e.g.
by chemical
bleaching agents.
According to another embodiment, the wood-based material is free of chemical
bleaching
agents.
According to another embodiment, the wood-based material is produced in a dry
process
with a wood moisture content of < 20 %. The percentage refers to the ratio of
the water
weight to the absolutely dry wood mass. In a dry process, the wood particles
are dried to
the product before the fleece formation and the pressing and the product shows
a wood
moisture of under 20%. The glue can be applied before or after drying.
According to another embodiment, the wood-based material comprises wood fibres
pressed under pressure and/or heat. According to a further embodiment, the
wood-based
material has a density of > 800 kg/m3. High-density fibreboards, for example,
have a
density in this range.
According to another embodiment, the wood-based panel is the material of a
high-density
fibreboard (HDF).
According to another embodiment, the tube segments are formed from a plurality
of strips.
The strips run in the longitudinal direction of the tube segment. In this
embodiment, in
particular a tube segment with an angular cross-section is formed.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments of the at least one
spacer are
spaced apart, wherein the at least one spacer comprises first gaps between
adjacent tube
segments of the at least one spacer, and wherein the first panel comprises at
least one
first opening at least partially overlapping one of the first gaps. This means
that the spacer
comprises gaps between all adjacent tube segments.
Alternatively, the at least one spacer can also be constructed without first
gaps, i.e. in
particular with tube segments close to each other.
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According to a further embodiment, the first panel comprises a plurality of
first openings,
each of the first openings overlapping at least partially with a respective
first gap of a
respective spacer of the layer.
Due to the first gaps of the spacers, such a pallet has a very low weight and
high
mechanical stability at the same time. In addition, the overlapping
arrangement of the first
openings with the first gaps allows additional components, e.g. feet of the
pallet, to be
easily inserted into the first openings and connected to the pallet, e.g.
attached to the
pallet.
The at least one first opening of the first panel particularly comprises an
extension along
the first longitudinal direction (i.e. along the pallet width) and an
extension transverse to
the first longitudinal direction in the plane of the first and second panel
(i.e. along the pallet
depth).
According to an embodiment, the at least one first opening has a rectangular
shape.
In particular, each spacer comprises at least three tube segments. This
results in at least
two first gaps between the adjacent tube segments of the corresponding spacer.
According to an embodiment, the tube segments have a segment width running
along the
connecting line between the cut ends, wherein the adjacent tube segments (i.e.
all
respectively adjacent tube segments) of the at least one spacer have a first
distance of at
least half a segment width, in particular at least one segment width, from one
another
along the direction of the segment width (i.e. along the second longitudinal
direction).
According to a further embodiment, the layer comprises a plurality of spacers,
wherein the
layer comprises a second gap at least between two adjacent spacers, and
wherein the
first panel comprises at least one first opening which at least partially
overlaps with the
second gap.
In particular, the spacers of the layer are spaced apart, the layer comprising
second gaps
between adjacent spacers, and the at least one first opening of the first
panel at least
partially overlapping one of the second gaps.
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Alternatively, the layer can also be applied without second gaps, i.e. in
particular with
spacers close to each other.
According to a further embodiment, the first panel comprises a plurality of
first openings,
wherein each of the first openings overlaps at least partially with a
respective second gap.
5 According to a further embodiment, the first panel comprises a plurality
of first openings,
each of the first openings overlapping at least partially with a respective
first gap of a
respective spacer or with a respective second gap of the layer.
According to a further embodiment, the adjacent spacers have a second distance
of at
least half a segment width, in particular at least one segment width, from one
another
10 transversely to the first longitudinal direction.
According to a further embodiment, the second panel comprises at least one
second
opening which at least partially overlaps with one of the first gaps and/or a
respective
second gap.
Such an at least one second opening is arranged on the opposite side (i.e. the
upper side)
of the pallet to the additional components of the pallet, e.g. feet. In
particular, by means of
such openings, it is advantageously possible to stack several pallets in a
stable and space-
saving manner by inserting the feet of another pallet according to the
invention into the
second openings.
In particular, the at least one second opening of the second panel
respectively has an
extension along the first longitudinal direction (i.e. along the direction of
the pallet width)
and an extension transverse to the first longitudinal direction in the plane
of the first and
second panels (i.e. in the direction of the pallet depth).
According to an embodiment, the at least one second opening has a rectangular
shape.
According to a further embodiment, the pallet comprises at least one foot,
each foot
comprising two supporting elements and a joining element, the at least one
foot
comprising second mitres at which the supporting elements are mechanically
connected
to the joining element.
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In particular, the supporting elements and the joining element are formed from
panels or
boards, the joining element being connected to the supporting elements at two
opposite
edges, so that an open cross-sectional profile of the foot is obtained.
The joining element of the at least one foot forms the bearing surface on the
floor when
the at least one foot is connected to the base of the pallet and the pallet
stands on the at
least one foot. The supporting elements particularly serve to connect the at
least one foot
to the pallet.
Such an arrangement, in particular the open construction of the foot, has the
advantage
that pallets equipped with such feet are easily stackable, the feet of a first
pallet being
insertable into the second openings of the second panel of a second pallet
when the first
pallet is stacked on the second pallet.
It is advantageously possible to store a pallet according to the invention on
such feet. In
addition, with appropriate distances between the feet, the pallet according to
the invention
can be used as a four-way pallet and, in particular, picked up using a
forklift truck. The
first gaps and/or second gaps of the layer and the overlapping first openings
of the first
panel allow the feet to be easily connected to the pallet without additional
fasteners or
attachments.
According to another embodiment, the profile of at least one foot formed
between the
supporting elements and the joining element has a trapezoidal segment shaped
cross-
section.
According to another embodiment, the supporting elements and the joining
element each
have a rectangular base. This makes it particularly easy to cut the individual
feet from a
larger blank.
According to a further embodiment, the supporting elements form second
internal angles
(13) with the joining element, which are the same size as the first internal
angles (a)
between the lateral elements and the cover element of the tube segments.
According to another embodiment, the supporting elements form second internal
angles
(f3) of 950 to 120 , particularly 1000 to 110 , with the joining element. In
particular, both
supporting elements form the same second internal angle with the joining
element.
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This has the advantage that the tube segments and at least one foot can be
manufactured
using the same machines, so that production costs can be saved. In particular,
the tube
segments and at least one foot are manufactured from a panel or board by
introducing
mitres, folding the mitres and mechanical joining (e.g. gluing). Therein, the
tube segments
have a smaller extension in the second longitudinal direction than the at
least one foot
made from the same panel or board. In particular, the cover element has a
smaller
extension along the segment width than the largest extension of the joining
element of the
foot in the cross-section of the foot.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one foot is arranged at least
partially in
one of the first gaps or in a respective second gap.
The first and/or second gaps can be easily filled with appropriately
dimensioned feet and
connected to the pallet.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one foot is made of a wood-
based material.
According to a further embodiment, the second internal angles between the
supporting
elements and the joining element of the at least one foot of the pallet are
the same size
as the first internal angles between the lateral elements and the cover
element of the tube
segments of the at least one spacer of the pallet.
According to a further embodiment, the supporting elements are foldable
against the
joining element so that an internal angle between the plane of extension of
the respective
supporting element and the joining element can be varied, so that in
particular when the
internal angle is reduced in a certain angular range, a mechanical stress
arises between
the respective supporting element and the joining element. This is possible,
for example,
with an HDF board material by the fact that the supporting elements and the
joining
element are connected to each other at mitres designed accordingly.
If, on insertion of the at least one foot through the at least one first
opening, the foot is
designed ed in such a way that the supporting elements are foldable around the
joining
element and the at least one foot is inserted through a respective second
opening into the
first gap or second gap, the foot opens after passing through the second
opening by
increasing the said internal angle and the supporting elements shift in the
direction of the
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pallet depth or pallet width. Alternatively, the foot can be inserted into the
first or second
gap by a first opening of the first panel.
In particular, when the at least one foot and the first and/or second gaps are
correspondingly designed, in the state in which the supporting elements are
inserted into
the respective first or second gaps, there is a mechanical stress through
which the
supporting elements exert a force on the second panel and the adjacent tube
segments
which advantageously promotes a fixed mechanical connection of the at least
one foot to
the pallet.
According to a further embodiment, the first gaps and/or the at least one
second gap have
an extension of at least 50 mm along the first longitudinal direction (i.e.
along the pallet
width) and an extension of at least 30 mm transverse to the first longitudinal
direction
along the plane of the first and second panels (i.e. along the pallet depth).
In the event that the extension of the first gaps and/or the at least one
second gap along
the first longitudinal direction and/or transversely to the first longitudinal
direction is not
constant, the term extension here means the minimum extension.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments form a cavity with the
first strip, in
particular within the layer, the first panel comprising at least one first
opening which
overlaps at least partially with one of the cavities. Therein, additional
components, in
particular feet of the pallet, can be introduced into the correspondingly
dimensioned
cavities. In particular, certain feet of the pallet can be introduced into a
respective cavity,
and other feet of the pallet can be introduced into a respective first gap.
Furthermore,
certain feet of the pallet can be particularly placed in a respective cavity,
and further feet
of the pallet can be placed in a respective second gap. There is also
provision for an
embodiment in which at least one foot is inserted into a respective cavity, in
which at least
one further foot is inserted into a respective first gap and in which at least
one further foot
is inserted into a respective second gap.
According to a further embodiment, the second panel comprises at least one
second
opening which at least partially overlaps with one of the cavities.
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According to a further embodiment, the cavities have an extension of at least
50 mm along
the first longitudinal direction, the cavities having an extension of at least
30 mm
transverse to the first longitudinal direction along the plane of the first
and second panels.
A second aspect of the invention concerns a spacer, in particular for
manufacturing a pallet
.. according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising a first strip
and a plurality of tube
segments, the tube segments each comprising two cut ends delimiting the
respective tube
segment along a circumferential direction of the respective tube segment, and
each
comprising two cut surfaces, which delimit the respective tube segment along a
second
longitudinal direction of the respective tube segment, and wherein the tube
segments of
the spacer each comprise two lateral elements and a cover element mechanically
connected to the lateral elements, wherein the lateral elements form first
internal angles
(a) of 95 to 120 , in particular 100 to 110 , with the cover element.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments of the spacer comprise
first mitres
on which the lateral elements are mechanically connected to the cover element.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments have a trapezoidal
segment
shaped cross-section.
According to another embodiment, the tube segments of at least one spacer are
mechanically connected to a first strip side of the first strip.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one spacer comprises a second
strip which
is mechanically connected to the walls of the tube segments of the respective
spacer.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments of the at least one
spacer are
spaced apart, wherein respective first gaps are formed between adjacent tube
segments.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the tube segments have a segment
width
extending along the connecting line between the cut ends, the adjacent tube
segments of
the at least one spacer having a first distance of at least half a segment
width, in particular
at least one segment width, from one another along the direction of the
segment width.
A third aspect of the invention concerns an intermediate product, in
particular for the
manufacture of a spacer according to the second aspect of the invention,
comprising at
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least a first cover layer and a plurality of tube segments, wherein the tube
segments each
comprise two cut ends which delimit the respective tube segment along a
circumferential
direction of the respective tube segment, and each have two cut surfaces which
delimit
the respective tube segment along a second longitudinal direction of the
respective tube
5 segment, and wherein the tube segments are mechanically connected to the
first cover
layer by means of their cut ends, and wherein the tube segments each have a
segment
depth extending along a second longitudinal direction of extension of the
respective tube
segment and a segment width extending along the connecting line between the
cut ends,
and wherein the segment depth corresponds to at least twice the segment width,
and
10 wherein the tube segments of the intermediate product each comprise two
lateral
elements and a cover element mechanically connected to the lateral elements,
wherein
the lateral elements form first internal angles (a) of 950 to 1200, in
particular 100 to 110 ,
with the cover element.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments of the intermediate
product
15 comprise first mitres on which the lateral elements are mechanically
connected to the
cover element.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments have a trapezoidal
segment
shaped cross-section.
According to another embodiment, the tube segments of the intermediate product
are
mechanically connected to a first side of the first cover layer.
According to another embodiment, the intermediate product comprises a second
cover
layer which is mechanically connected to the walls of the tube segments of the
intermediate product.
According to a further embodiment, adjacent tube segments of the intermediate
product
are spaced apart, wherein gaps are formed between adjacent tube segments.
According to a further embodiment, the tube segments have a segment width
running
along the connecting line between the cut ends, wherein the adjacent tube
segments of
the intermediate product have a first distance of at least half a segment
width, in particular
at least one segment width, from one another along the direction of the
segment width.
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According to an embodiment, the adjacent tube segments have a third distance
along the
direction of the segment width of at least half a segment width, in particular
at least one
segment width.
According to an embodiment, the intermediate product comprises a second cover
layer
running parallel to the first cover layer, which is mechanically connected to
the walls of the
tube segments.
A fourth aspect of the invention concerns a method of manufacturing a pallet,
in particular
according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising at least
the following
steps:
- providing an intermediate product according to the third aspect of the
invention,
- producing at least one spacer, particularly according to the second
aspect of the
invention, by dividing the intermediate product transversely to the second
longitudinal
direction of the tube segments of the intermediate product,
- forming a layer by mechanically connecting the at least one spacer to a
first panel,
wherein a cut surface of each of the tube segments of the at least one spacer
is
mechanically connected to the first panel,
- mechanically connecting the at least one spacer to a second panel,
wherein the other
cut surface of the tube segments of the at least one spacer is connected to
the second
panel.
According to an embodiment of the method, at least one second gap is formed
between
adjacent spacers of the layer.
According to an embodiment of the method, the layer is formed by a plurality
of spacers,
wherein adjacent spacers of the layer are spaced apart, and wherein second
gaps are
formed between each of the adjacent tube segments.
According to a further embodiment, the adjacent spacers are arranged at a
third distance
of at least half a segment width, in particular at least one segment width,
from each other.
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According to an embodiment of the method, at least one opening of the first
panel is at
least partially coincided with a corresponding first gap between the adjacent
tube
segments of the corresponding spacer or with a corresponding second gap
between the
corresponding adjacent spacers of the layer.
According to a further embodiment of the method, after mechanically connecting
the at
least one spacer to the first panel, at least one opening is produced in the
first panel so
that the at least one opening is at least partially coincided with a
corresponding first gap
between the tube segments of a corresponding spacer or with a corresponding
second
gap between the adjacent tube segments.
The at least one first opening and the at least one second opening can be
produced in
particular by sawing or milling out of the first or second panel,
respectively.
Further details and advantages of the invention are explained by the following
description
of examples on the basis of figures.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a tube segment;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an intermediate product for
creating a tube segment;
Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a layer of a pallet
according to
the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an intermediate
product for
producing a layer
Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a spacer;
Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of an intermediate
product for
creating spacers;
Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a pallet according
to the
invention;
Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of a foot of a pallet
according to
the invention;
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Fig.9 shows a schematic representation of an intermediate
product for
creating a foot;
Fig. 10 shows a schematic representation of a pallet according
to the
invention with feet.
Figure 1 shows in detail a tube segment 14, which is extended along a
longitudinal
direction 12 and comprises a wall 145 as well as two cut ends 141,142
delimiting the wall
145 in the circumferential direction of the tube segment 14. Furthermore, the
tube segment
14 comprises two cut surfaces 143, 144, which delimit the tube segment 14 in
the second
longitudinal direction 12.
The tube segment 14 has a segment depth tin the direction of the second
longitudinal
direction 12, a segment width b corresponding to the maximum extension in the
direction
of a connecting line between the cut ends 141,142, and a segment height h
corresponding
to the maximum extension in the third spatial direction perpendicular to the
segment width
b and the segment depth t.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the tube segment 14 is formed by two
lateral
elements 146 extending essentially along the segment height h and a cover
element 147
extending along the segment width b, the lateral elements 146 being connected
by the
cover element 147.
The lateral elements 146 are angled with respect to the segment width b,
resulting in a
trapezoidal segment shaped cross-section of the tube segment 14 transverse to
the
longitudinal direction 1, wherein the lateral elements 146 comprise first
internal angles a of
95 to 120 with the cover element 147.
As an alternative to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the tube segment 14 can
also
have a differently shaped cross-section.
Figure 2 shows an intermediate product from which the tube segment 14 shown in
Figure
1 can be formed by folding and mechanical joining, in particular gluing. The
intermediate
product consists of a panel, in particular a panel made of a wood-based
material, the panel
comprising first mitres 148, in particular V-shaped first mitres 148. The
first mitres 148
extend between the parts of the panel which, in the folded and joined state,
i.e. in the
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finished tube segment 14 (see Figure 1), form the lateral elements 146 and the
part of the
panel which, in the folded and joined state, forms the cover element 147.
These parts of
the panel can be folded along the first mitres 148 to form a tube segment 14.
The first
mitres 148 can, for example, be applied with glue before folding, so that the
lateral
elements 146 can be firmly joined to the cover element 147.
Figure 3 shows a layer 13 according to the invention of a pallet 1 according
to the invention
comprising a plurality of spacers 18 arranged in parallel along a first
longitudinal direction
(along a pallet width Bp), the spacers 18 each being formed of a first strip
15a, a second
strip 15b and a plurality of tube segments 14. The segment widths b of the
tube segments
14 extend in the direction of the pallet width Bp and the segment heights h of
the tube
segments 14 extend along a pallet depth Tp. The designations of segment width
b,
segment height h and segment depth t according to the illustration of the tube
segment 14
can be found in Figure 1.
The longitudinal directions 12 of the tube segments 14 thus run transversely
to a
(imaginary) plane formed from the pallet width Bp and the pallet depth Tp,
which
corresponds to the plane of the first panel 11 and the second panel 12 in the
finished pallet
1. The adjacent tube segments 14 within a spacer 18 have first distances al
from each
other in the direction of the first longitudinal direction II, so that first
gaps 181 arise within
the spacers 18.
The spacers 18 are arranged within the layer 13 in such a way that the
corresponding
strips 15a,15b of the adjacent spacers 18 lie against each other. The tube
segments 14
form with the first strips 15a respective cavities 149.
Figure 4 shows an intermediate product consisting of three layers 13 according
to the
invention, which are placed next to each other in the direction of their
pallet depth T. The
respective three layers 13 can be created by cuts along the cutting lines S.
In this way,
pallets in Euro pallet format, for example, can be created from a larger
intermediate
product.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the adjacent spacers 18 have second
distances az
from each other in the direction of the pallet depth Tp, so that second gaps
133 are created.
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Figure 5 shows a detailed view of a spacer 18 of the layer 13 of pallet 1
according to the
invention shown in Figure 3 or 4. The spacer 18 shown comprises a first strip
15a and a
second strip 15b extending parallel to the first strip 15a, with tube segments
14 arranged
between the first strip 15a and the second strip 15b. Therein, the cut ends
141,142 of the
5 tube segments 14 are each connected to a first strip side 151 of the
first strip 15a and the
cover elements 147 of the tube segments 14 are connected to the second strip
15b. The
respective adjacent tube segments 14 of the spacer have first distances ai
from each
other along the first longitudinal direction h, so that first gaps 181 are
formed.
The lateral elements 146 of the tube segments 14 and the first strip 15a of
the spacer form
10 third internal angles 7 in the range of 60 to 85 , e.g. approx. 76 .
Figure 6 shows an intermediate product 19 for the creation of spacers 18 (as
shown in
Figure 5). The intermediate product 19 comprises a first cover layer 191 and a
second
cover layer 192, with the first and second cover layers 191,192 arranged
parallel to each
other. Furthermore, the intermediate product 19 comprises tube segments 14
arranged
15 between the first and second cover layers 191,192, which are arranged
parallel to each
other along their second longitudinal directions 12. The tube segments 14 have
interspaces
193 between each other in the direction of the segment widths b. The tube
segments 14
have interspaces 193 between each other in the direction of the segment widths
b. The
tube segments 14 used here have a significantly greater segment depth tin the
direction
20 of the second longitudinal direction 12 than the tube segments of the
spacer 18 shown in
Figure 5.
Figure 6 also shows an imaginary cutting line S. If the intermediate product
19 is cut along
the cutting line S transversely to the common longitudinal direction 12 of the
tube segments
14 of the intermediate product 19, a spacer 18 of the type shown in Figure 5
can be
produced. In this way a large number of spacers 18 can be produced from an
intermediate
product 19.
Figure 7 shows a pallet 1 according to the invention comprising parallel first
and second
panels 11,12 and a layer 13 arranged between the first panel 11 and the second
panel
12. The layer 13 is similar to the layer 13 shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. The
first panel 11
comprises first openings 111, wherein the second panel 12 comprises second
openings
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121. The first openings 111 and the second openings 121 are coincided with
respective
first gaps 181 and/or second gaps 133 of the layer 13, so that continuous
openings of the
pallet 1 result transversely to the plane formed by the pallet width Bp and
the pallet depth
Tp. It is advantageous to place feet 16 (see Figures 8-10) in these continuous
openings.
.. If the feet 16 are designed accordingly, the pallet 1 according to the
invention can be
designed as a stacking pallet by inserting the feet 16 of an upper pallet 1
into the second
openings 121 of the second panel 12 of a lower pallet 1.
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a foot 16 for a pallet 1 according to the
invention in
a folded form. The foot 16 comprises two supporting elements 161 and a joining
element
.. 162, which mechanically connects the supporting elements 161, wherein the
supporting
elements 161 form second internal angles 13 with the joining element 162,
particularly in
the range from 950 to 120 .
Figure 9 shows foot 16 in an unfolded form. In the embodiment shown here, the
foot 16 is
formed from panels of a wood-based material, wherein the supporting elements
161 and
the joining element 162 can be formed from a single panel which comprises sawn
or milled
second mitres 163, as shown in Figure 9, in particular V-shaped mitres 163,
between the
supporting elements 161 and the joining element 162. The supporting elements
161 are
rectangular in shape as shown here.
If the foot 16 is folded as shown in Figure 8, a preload of the foot 16 can be
produced by
.. applying a force, so that particularly the foot 16 can be inserted through
the at least one
second opening 121 of the second panel 12 into the first gap 181 or second gap
133 under
the preload. When the preload is released, the foot 16 opens at least
partially, so that the
supporting elements 161 form an at least partially positive connection with
the inside of
the second panel 12 or with the tube segments 14 of the layer 13.
Alternatively, the foot 16 can also be inserted into the respective first gap
181 or second
gap 133 through a respective first opening 111 (i.e. from the underside of
pallet 1). For
example, a preload can be applied so that the distance between the supporting
elements
161 is sufficiently reduced (and the second internal angles 13 are also
reduced) so that the
foot 16 fits through the respective first opening 111. By releasing the
preload the foot 16
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opens, so that particularly the foot 16 is fixed in the first gap 181 or
second gap 133 and
does not slip out of the first opening 111.
Figure 10 shows a pallet 1 according to the invention in a embodiment with
feet 16 in a
perspective view from the top of pallet 1. Pallet 1 comprises a layer 13
arranged between
a first panel 11 and a second panel 12. The layer 13 is structured in the same
way as the
layer 13 shown in Figure 3. The segment depths t of the tube segments 14 of
layer 13
extend in the direction of a pallet height Hp, which extends perpendicular to
the plane of
the first panel 11 and the second panel 12. The Layer 13 comprises first gaps
181 and/or
second gaps 133 (hidden here), which overlap with second openings 121 of the
second
panel 12. Therein, the second openings 121 are narrower in the direction of
pallet depth
Tp than the extension of the corresponding first gaps 181 and/or second gaps
133 in the
direction of pallet depth Tp. Thus the supporting elements 161 of the feet 16
(see Figure
8) are arranged in corresponding spaces between the second panel 12 and the
tube
segments 14 adjacent to the corresponding first or second gap 181, 133. In the
first or
second gaps 181,133, which are accessible upwards by means of the second
openings
121, the feet 16 of a further pallet 1 can be inserted, for example, when
stacking several
pallets 1 according to the invention, which allows space-saving stacking.
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List of reference numerals
1 Pallet
11 First panel
111 First opening
12 Second panel
121 Second opening
13 Layer
133 Second gap
14 Tube segment
141,142 Cut ends
143,144 Cut surfaces
145 wall
-
146 Lateral element
147 Cover element
148 First mitre
149 Cavity
15a First strip
15b Second strip
151 First strip side
16 Foot
161 Supporting element
162 Joining element
163 Second mitre
18 Spacer
181 First gap
19 Intermediate product
191 First cover layer
-
192 Second cover layer
193 Interspace
11 First longitudinal direction
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12 Second longitudinal direction
al First distance
a2 Second distance
b Segment width
t Segment depth
h Segment height
Bp Pallet width
Tp Pallet depth
Hp Pallet height
S Cutting line
ot First internal angle
R Second internal angle
7 Third internal angle
